Remember how I traveled to Orlando, Fla., a couple of months ago?
Well, if you don’t remember… I did. And I had a blast, talking about measurement.
The PRSA Orlando chapter took excellent care of me; and as part of the arrangements, they organized a car service to pick me up from my hotel and take me to the venue at which I was speaking.
Even though it was really early in the morning, I had a terrific car ride… not least because Rick Henry, the operator of the car service (or, at least, the car I was being driven in) had a lot to say about how he, a small business owner:
Is using (or not using) social media to drive his business
What really grows his business (hint: it’s a 13-letter word starting with R, ending with S, and contains the words “at” and “ship”)
Is using new technology that is the darling of the social media crowd, to truly operate his business on the go, even though he doesn’t think he “does” social media.
Have a look at this video to see what I mean. It isn’t too long (slightly over three minutes).
And please excuse the lack of light/occasional shakes; I filmed this from my iPhone as we were driving, so all things considered, it’s not too bad.
Rick is really growing his business in a very smart way, isn’t he?
By:
using good (and regular) communication with his customers,
adopting the technology that will make his customers’ (and therefore his) lives easier;
making his mobile, car service, truly mobile.
If Rick can do all that with a driver license, a smartphone and a small, square chip…
What’s stopping you?
[…] less than five years, smartphones have completely changed the way we communicate with each other and access our […]
@3hatscomm Thank you so much, belatedly, for sharing!
@shonali YW. Hope the new gig’s going well.. have a good weekend.
@3HatsComm You too! I’m looking forward to seeing @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic & more at @caprsa in Nawlins
@shonali @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic @caprsa Oh, jealous. Have some yummy Nawlins food and drink for me ;-)
@shonali @3HatsComm @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic @caprsa I’m “&more” :)
@KensViews I couldn’t fit everyone in! @abbief too… @3HatsComm @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic @caprsa
@3HatsComm Apparently @kensviews is hellbent on making me do so. @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic @caprsa
@shonali @kensviews @ginidietrich @lisagerber @mclennan @blah2voila @pierreloic @caprsa Heh.. have a good time in N.O.
The tools are out there. It requires taking the time to learn them, to use them — to invest in yourself and your business. We can advise, counsel, consultant until our clients ears’ bleed, but until THEY wake up and realize they have to do the work, put the time into learning about their customers (relationships!) and what tools/services their CUSTOMERS value, it won’t matter. This was a great example of a mobile business actually thinking ‘mobile’ – and the right kind of social networking; he’s going after the LinkedIn fish, the best catch for his biz. FWIW.
Great stuff, Shonali! What’s great about this is it shows how the Rick Henrys of the world can have still have a presence in the social media universe while “not” being in it.
Oh, I remember all right. I still have the black eye from getting lost in the woods the night before which prompted hiring a professional driver…………
Great post, very interesting and thanks for sharing.
@bdorman264 LOLOL! See, you should have known not to mess with me after I started working out in #mybootcamp. :p
@jocmbarnett Thank you for sharing!
@skypulsemedia Thanks, pal! And @rachaelseda to you too for sharing & commenting!
@shonali Always! I’m getting the wheels rolling for my next post as we speak ;)
@rachaelseda So the next time I log into #WUL, it will be in there? :p
@shonali hey you
@kmueller62 Hey YOU! Wassup?
@shonali oh, this and that
@kmueller62 Oh yea? Me too. (Why do we sound like the Marx Brothers?)
@shonali haha. i’m just worn out!
@kmueller62 I’m getting there…
@shonali HAHA, I don’t know about the next time you log in but I’m working on it ;)
Chunk-n-Chip uses square for processing credit cards. When I was in Panama a few years back the driver of our cab the first night bent over backwards to impress us and then he gave us his cell number for us to call him for rides bypassing the dispatcher. Smart people with great service always win.
I LOVE his LinkedIn marketing!
@HowieSPM That’s very cool. I got a Square chip for myself a while back but haven’t used it for anything. Sometimes I feel I should set it up simply so that I can use it, hah!
Yes, I thought what Rick was doing was terrific – but it was completely unexpected to me that he’d pull out his Square!
A great example! No excuses…you make it as complicated or as simple as you want it to be!
@rachaelseda Tru dat!
@shonali A pleasure…shared it as well with our MBA director.
This is great stuff. Something to get everyone thinking, and while we are all talking about mobile as the thing to focus on, there is also the issue of mobility. Two different things. Love this.
@KenMueller I called you and I am still waiting for you to show up and drive me to the store.
@KenMueller And when mobility and mobile collide… perfect.
This absolutely makes the point that I try day-in and day-out to make with my students (who will be going out into the world and…hopefully…optimizing social media opportunities in their jobs/lives. I love Rick’s very realistic discussion of how he uses various platforms to conduct…and control…his business. And the “R” word…relationships…comes through loud and clear!
@KirkHazlett I loved that he doesn’t think he uses social media… but in fact, he does! I was telling GeoMorales djprtampa and my other prsaorlando friends about him – they didn’t know about his being so Square either :p.